Long time ago, when Vietnam was young, the land was ruled by a powerful king named Hùng Vương. Throughout the kingdom, he was known as a strong ruler, yet, his heart melts dearly for his beautiful daughter Mị Nương. As his only child, the king adores his little princess and seeks nothing more from his vast kingdom than her happiness. With the grace of a willow, voice of a nightingale, and beauty as pure as a lotus blossom, the princess was perfect in every way and as she grew, she was the most beautiful young woman throughout Vietnam.

Great kings and brave men from across the land, near or far, came to seek Mị Nương’s hand for marriage. But the king, who loves his daughter above anything in the kingdom, wants to choose the worthy husband for her precious daughter, and expects nothing but a perfect suitor. Day by day, knights and warriors and princes and kings lined up on the palace gates bringing valuable gifts and proclaiming their wealth and power. One by one, the king turns them away. Until he finds the one who possess all the traits of the perfect match for his daughter - riches, wisdom, courage and fine looks - will he only agree to give Mị Nương’s hand for marriage.

One day, when nearly all gentlemen in the empire had been turned away by the king, two handsome young noblemen stood before him, both asking for the princess’ hand. The first man, with a calm, sincere and gentle voice introduced himself to the king. "I am Sơn Tinh, Lord of the Mountains. My realm contains the steepest hills and slopes, the deepest jungles, rugged cliffs, mighty waterfalls, and flowing streams. The fiercest to the most timid beasts are at my command. My palace gates confine the rarest and most delicious fruits and are adorned with the loveliest and fragrant flowers. If I so desire, all jades, emeralds, golds, and unimaginable treasures of the mountains will be laid at my feet. Should I be granted your daughter's hand in marriage, she shall sleep upon a bed of jasmine and orchids, and I promise her eternal happiness." With a gentle bow, he stepped back.

In a bold, loud and firm voice, the other nobleman took his turn and presented himself to the king. “I am Thủy Tinh, Lord of the Seas. I reign over the vast underwater realm - a kingdom far more vast than the highlands. Precious pearls, rare corals and treasures lost by sailors at sea are mine. All the creatures in the oceans, great or small, bow before me. The mighty whale sings at my command while the fierce sharks obey me when I beckon. I can command the winds to wail and spin, and make the waters crash against the shores or toss ships that sail amidst my boundary. My home is a palace made of crystal, more beautiful than any human eye has ever set sight. But if you allow me to marry your daughter, all these shall be hers. She shall sleep inside a mother-of-pearl shell and reign by my side as Queen of the Seas forever." With confidence, he bowed and stepped back.

With careful inquiry and examination, the king determined that either of the two gentlemen makes a suitable husband for Mị Nương. Finding himself in a quandary as to whom to choose, the king decided to hold a contest of which, whoever will win, will be granted the honor of marrying his daughter. He decided to send them both away, telling them that whoever turns up first the next day bringing the most valuable wedding gifts would win Mị Nương’s hand for marriage.

Sơn Tinh rushed back to the mountains and ordered his servants to gather all the kingdom’s priceless jewels, the most beautiful birds, the rarest flowers and delicious fruits. Thủy Tinh likewise hurried home to his palace under the sea, commanded his servants to collect all of the kingdom’s most dazzling pearls and colorful corals. He gathered the most beautiful fishes in the sea to delight Princess Mị Nương. Both men prepared their precious presents and waited for the break of dawn.

Just before the sun was about to rise the next morning, Sơn Tinh, Lord of the Mountains, and one hundred servants had already reached the palace gates. He then laid his gifts at the king’s feet and asked for Mị Nương’s hand. Impressed and satisfied, the king handed his daughter to the mighty young man. Sơn Tinh, then, paid respects to the king, took Mị Nương in his royal chariot and set to start their journey back to his kingdom where the grand wedding is to be prepared. Barely had their journey began when Thủy Tinh, Lord of the Seas, showed up with his gifts. Realizing what had happened, he could not accept his defeat.

He sought to challenge Sơn Tinh to a contest of strength and prove who is worthy to take Mị Nương’s hand. When Sơn Tinh refused, the enraged Thủy Tinh drew out his sword and commanded to seize the princess. To protect his precious bride, the Lord of the Mountains drew his sword as well and called out to all the beasts of the highlands to come down and fight with him. Not to be outdone, Thủy Tinh shouted to the oceans and ordered all great and small sea creatures to come out of the waters and be his warriors. A fierce battle then began.

With Thủy Tinh’s command, winds began to howl and bended the trees to the ground. The ocean waves crashed against the rocky shore and began to rise. With fury so intense, the Lord of the Seas sent slashing rains over the skies. Angry winds blew away the huts while the overflowing oceans washed away the rice fields and drowning innocent villagers. Sơn Tinh hurled down lightning bolts at the pursuing Lord of the Seas. He commanded the huge and enormous trees from the mountains to uproot themselves and roll down towards the enemy. Soon, the scared villagers fled for their lives.

The battle between the two powerful Lords raged for weeks, however none of them gained victory. Instead, the villagers suffered the consequences of the huge display of strength. They knelt before the altars of their ancestors and prayed that the lords would soon tire of the war. Finally, Sơn Tinh used all his magical powers and commanded the mountains to rise higher so that no waters could reach its top. After days of attempts to raise the water and overcome his rival, Thủy Tinh finally retreated the mountains and returned to the sea.

With anger, he vowed never to end the battle and would forever try to win Mị Nương. The rains stopped, the winds calmed and the waves receded, but Thủy Tinh’s fury lives on. Never to accept his defeat, he returns the same time every year. Along with heavy rains, mighty winds and crashing waves, the battle renews and the villagers once again scurry for safety. And every year, as he fails to win Mị Nương, he retreats back to the sea. Since then, it had become a never-ending cycle. Today, when the monsoon rains arrive every June of the year, demonstrating the Lord of the Sea’s fury, carelessness and disregard, the Vietnamese people knows Thủy Tinh is once again pursuing the victory he could never obtain.